William Dobell’s love of drawing was recognised in 1993 when the Art Gallery of New South Wales established an annual drawing prize in his name, initiated by the trustees of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation (SWDAF). For twenty years, the annual Dobell Prize for Drawing encouraged excellence in drawing and draughtsmanship among Australian artists. Past winners include Kevin Connor, David Fairbairn, Virginia Grayson, Nicholas Harding, Ann Pollak, Gareth Sansom, Jan Senbergs, Garry Shead and Aida Tomescu.

Building on the legacy of this respected award, the National Art School partnered with the SWDAF in 2019 to produce the inaugural Dobell Drawing Prize. This new iteration of the Prize celebrates technical skill, innovation and expanded definitions of drawing. In 2019, the $30,000, acquisitive prize was awarded to Justine Varga, who uses photographic processes as a means of drawing. This year’s exhibition, the Dobell Drawing Prize #22, showcases drawings by 64 artists from around the country. The 2021 guest judge, celebrated artist Lucy Culliton, awarded the prize to Euan Macleod for his pastel on paper work Borderlands – Between NSW and QLD (2020).

The National Art School provides a context for the Dobell Drawing Prize to thrive in. The exhibition is part of the NAS Festival of Drawing, a biennial event organised by the School’s National Centre for Drawing. The festival includes talks, workshops and a research symposium. The Prize also compliments the School’s esteemed academic drawing program: drawing is a core component of all studies at NAS and is taught throughout each degree.

Dobell Prize for Drawing at the Art Gallery of NSW

Visit the AGNSW website for the full archive of the Dobell Prize for Drawing (1993–2012)

Although a reserved and unassuming man, William Dobell’s two years teaching at the National Art School had a profound effect on his students. Many describe his love for drawing, and his outstanding draughtsmanship was apparent when he demonstrated drawing in his classes at NAS.

Sir William Dobell was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, on 24 September 1899. He moved to Sydney in 1924 to study at the Julian Ashton Art School, where he met many artists who would later teach at the National Art School. In 1929 he won the Society of Artists Travelling Scholarship and lived in London for ten years, painting and studying at the Slade School of Fine Art. When his scholarship ran out after three years, he supported himself by producing posters and illustrations for magazines, acting as an extra in films, and working with fellow Australian artists decorating the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow in 1937.

On his return to Sydney in 1939 his friend Douglas Dundas offered him a part time teaching position at East Sydney Technical College (now the National Art School). He taught drawing from nature, costume drawing and became highly respected as the ‘life master’, teaching life drawing in the studios on the top floor of building 16. He taught at NAS until 1941, when he left to work as a camouflage artist during WW2. After the war, Dobell occasionally filled in as a lecturer at NAS, teaching the students studying there under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme.

In 1943 Dobell won the Archibald Prize, Australia’s principal award for portraiture, for a painting of fellow artist and former NAS student Joshua Smith. The award was immediately challenged on the grounds that Dobell’s entry showed a degree of distortion, which made it a caricature rather than a true portrait, but the court upheld the judging panel’s decision. Resultant newspaper publicity greatly expanded interest in Dobell’s work, but as a result of the controversy Dobell withdrew to Wangi Wangi, a small coastal town north of Sydney, where he set up a studio. He won the Archibald Prize twice more, in 1948 with a portrait of former NAS student Margaret Olley, and in 1959 with a portrait of Dr Edward McMahon. Dobell continued to draw all his life, filling sketchbooks and recording the life and people of Wangi Wangi. He was knighted in 1966 and died on May 14, 1970.

The Sir William Dobell Art Foundation was formed in 1971 from the artist’s bequest with instructions that ‘a Foundation be established for the benefit and promotion of art in NSW.’ The Foundation has sponsored a wide variety of projects since then, including exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, scholarships and major public art commissions. The SWDAF first joined forces with NAS in 1998 to present the Dobell Drawing School – an annual, week-long workshop for year 11 students. Now in its twentieth year, this educational partnership has expanded to include the Dobell Regional Teachers’ Workshop, which gives rural teachers the opportunity to work with a practising NAS artist.

The new Dobell Drawing Prize runs in alternative years to the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, affirming the SWDAF’s commitment to continuing the development of drawing as a medium in its own right, and a fundamental element of the visual arts.

Art Director of the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation Paula Latos-Valier states:

‘The Dobell Drawing Prize has many great attributes – it is very democratic in that any artist can enter and there are no restrictions to subject matter or medium. This freedom from curatorial constraint is a distinguishing feature. The Prize has always championed the idea of peer group assessment by inviting respected practicing artists to select the finalists and determine the prize-winner. Lastly, being an acquisitive prize means that the winning work goes into a public collection and leaves a tangible legacy for future generations.  The Foundation is excited that this will continue in this new partnership with NAS.’

2021 Winner and Finalists Dobell Drawing Prize #22 (26 March – 22 May 2021)

WINNER
Euan Macleod, Borderlands – Between NSW and QLD, 2020, pastel on paper, 156 x 120 cm

WINNER, PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Joanna Gambotto, Hill End Interior 1 (Denningtons Cottage: Kim and Lino’s), 2020, charcoal and pastel on paper, 115 x 330 cm

2021 GUEST JUDGE
Lucy Culliton

JUDGE’S STATEMENT
In the initial stage of judging, I was surprised by the variety of materials artists use to make drawings – from ceramics, stitching and painting to digital technology. In judging the finalists, we selected some of these works because of their drawing merits. The initial round was judged digitally, so when I saw the finalists hung it was a pleasure and a surprise. My final decision came down to a fundamental drawing practice, with my top three finalists being Amanda Penrose Heart, Martin King and Euan Macleod. Euan’s work is fast and immediate drawing, describing a landscape in a blur of activity. There is an accurate freshness I am drawn to, making Euan the winner of this year’s Dobell Drawing Prize.

Dobell Prize for Drawing at the Art Gallery of NSW
Visit the AGNSW website for the full archive of the Dobell Prize for Drawing (1993-2012)

2021 Finalists

This National Art School touring exhibition presents a selection of 44 finalists’ work from the 2021 Prize, including Euan Macleod’s winning work, chosen by guest judge and acclaimed artist Lucy Culliton.

Selected artists: Margaret Ambridge, Maree Azzopardi, Belinda Birchall, Stephen Bird, John Bokor, GW Bot, Matt Bromhead, Anthony Cahill, Mitch Cairns, Tom Carment, Chris Casali, Joshua Charadia, Damian Dillon, Amy Dynan, Yvonne East, Phillip Faulks, Todd Fuller, Joanna Gambotto, Minka Gillian, Jane Grealy, Nicci Haynes, Kendal Heyes, Alun Rhys Jones, Iluwanti Ken, Martin King, Debbie Locke, Euan Macleod, Brian Martin, Julian Martin, Noel McKenna, Peta Minnici, Reg Mombassa, Anna Mould, Anh Nguyen, Travis Paterson, Amanda Penrose Hart, Anna Louise Richardson, Peter Sharp, Claire Tozer, Leonardo Uribe, Murat Urlali, Craig Waddell, Paul White, Tianli Zu.

Logan Art Gallery, QLD
4 December 2021 – 15 January 2022

Bank Art Museum Moree
19 February – 5 April 2022

Gosford Art Gallery
23 April – 5 June 2022

Cowra Regional Art Gallery
25 June – 14 August 2022

Griffith Regional Art Gallery
26 August – 23 October 2022

Glasshouse Port Macquarie
5 November 2022 – 21 January 2023

Note: As of 29/11/21. Dates subject to change.

The National Art School and Sir William Dobell Art Foundation are delighted to announce NAS alumna and former finalist Lucy Culliton as the guest judge for the 2021 prize. The judging process for the Dobell Drawing Prize #22 will occur in two phases. After individually reviewing each digital entry, Lucy Culliton (artist), Michelle Belgiorno (Trustee, Sir William Dobell Art Foundation) and Simon Cooper (Head of Studies, National Art School), will convene as a panel in December 2020 to select approximately 50 finalists. At the prize exhibition in March 2021, guest judge Lucy Culliton will choose the outright winner.

LUCY CULLITON

Lucy Culliton is one of Australia’s most recognised contemporary landscape and still life artists. Lucy studied at the National Art School and has exhibited her work nationally and internationally for over 20 years. The focus of her practice for the past ten years has been the animals, plants and landscape at her home in the high country of the NSW Monaro region. Culliton has been selected multiple times for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes at the Art Gallery NSW, as well as the Dobell Prize for Drawing and the Kedumba Drawing Award. In 1999, she received Highly Commended in the Portia Geach Memorial Award. In 2000, Culliton won the Mosman Art Prize and in 2004, the Kedumba Drawing Award. Lucy’s work can be found in the collections of the Art Gallery NSW, Australian Parliament House, National Gallery of Australia, Macquarie Bank, New England Regional Art Gallery and Tamworth Regional Gallery. Lucy is represented by King Street Gallery on William, Sydney.

MICHELLE BELGIORNO 

Michelle Belgiorno is an exhibiting artist, a company director, a Director of the not-for-profit Australian Wildlife Conservancy and a long-serving trustee on the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation. She has a BA Fine Arts, BA Honours Japanese and a Master of Commerce. Michelle has a background in corporate communications and extensive experience in the philanthropic sector in Australia.

SIMON COOPER

Simon Cooper has practiced and exhibited extensively throughout Australia and internationally. His work is held in numerous private and public collections including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Gallery of Australia. He has taught within a range of institutions including the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne; RMIT University, Melbourne; University of Southern Queensland and the Chisholm Institute, Melbourne. Since joining the National Art School in 2001 as Head of Printmaking, he has held other academic positions within the School including Acting Director and is currently Head of Studies.

2019 Winner Dobell Drawing Prize #21 (28 March – 25 May 2019)

Winner
Justine Varga, Photogenic Drawing 2018, chromogenic photograph, 151.5 × 120 cm

Highly Commended
Tony Albert, Old Sins Cast Long Shadows 2018, ink on archival paper, 233 × 76 cm

2019 Guest judge
Ben Quilty (artist)

Judges’ statement
‘Drawing is a fundamental part of many visual art practices. The winner of the Dobell Drawing Prize #21 uses drawing in the most meaningful and sophisticated way. Her work is a distillation of so many components of our collective lives. Drawing plays a pivotal role in this artist’s exploration of us all. The winning work is a powerful, playful and sophisticated 21st century drawing and a deserved winner.’

‘Highly commended goes to an artist who is relentlessly and skillfully re-writing dialogues about Australian histories. Drawing underpins his practice. Old Sins Cast Long Shadows uses the most simple drawing techniques to tell a formidably sophisticated story.’

Dobell Prize for Drawing at the Art Gallery of NSW

Visit the AGNSW website for the full archive of the Dobell Prize for Drawing (1993-2012).

2019 Finalists

Entry and eligibility

1. The Dobell Drawing Prize is open only to Australian citizens, permanent residents, or holders of an Australian issued refugee or humanitarian visa residing in Australia. Entrants must be over the age of 18
2. Each competitor may enter up to two works only. An entry fee of $50 including GST is payable for each artwork entered. Receipt of payment will be issued by email. The payment receipt acts as confirmation of entry

3. The size of the artwork must not exceed six square metres (e.g. 3 x 2 m or 1.5 x 4 m). Note the floor to ceiling wall heights at NAS Gallery: Gallery 1 is 4.15 m high and Gallery 2 is 4.8 m

4. Works submitted must have been completed within 12 months of the closing date for entries, which is 5pm Monday 29 August 2022.

5. There are no limitations to media. As well as works on paper, entries that present drawing in alternative formats are invited. Entrants must clearly describe the nature of their drawing practice in a statement as part of the entry requirements

6. The entrant warrants that the work submitted is their original work and does not infringe the copyright, moral rights or other rights of any third party, and that they own the work and all rights and interests in the work submitted
7. The declaration on the entry form must be completed by the entrant

Judging and acquisition

8. After individually reviewing each entry to the prize, three judges will convene as a panel in November 2022 to select approximately 50 finalists. The judges for the finalists’ selection will be Catherine O’Donnell (artist), Paula Latos Valier (Trustee, Sir William Dobell Art Foundation) and Katrina Cashman (Gallery Manager and Senior Curator, National Art School).

9. All finalists and unsuccessful entrants will be notified via email by Monday 21 November 2022. Finalists will be listed on the NAS website from Monday 21 November 2022.

10. The judging panel will select the winner of the Dobell Drawing Prize #23, which will be announced on Thursday 30 March 2023.

11. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into

12. The Dobell Drawing Prize #23 is an acquisitive prize, which means the prize-winning artwork will automatically become property of the National Art School. The $30,000 prize money, donated by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, includes the National Art School’s acquisition of the work. The copyright of the work will remain with the artist.

Finalists

13. The finalist grants the National Art School permission to display their work:

In the Dobell Drawing Prize #23 finalists’ exhibition at NAS Gallery from Friday 31 March to Saturday 10 June 2023.

At venues other than NAS Gallery from June 2023 to June 2025, in a regional exhibition tour of selected finalists from the Dobell Drawing Prize #23

With the understanding that not all of the finalists exhibited at the National Art School will be selected for the Dobell Drawing Prize #23 touring exhibition.

14. Finalist artworks must be delivered personally or by an agent to NAS Gallery between 9am and 5pm on Monday 20 March 2023. Artworks must be clearly labelled with the artist’s name, address, phone number and the title of the work

15. Unframed or unmounted works will only be accepted if they are protected in suitable casing and/or wrapping. This measure is to help NAS Gallery protect your work, which will be moved frequently during the exhibition installation

16. Finalist artworks must be collected from NAS Gallery at the end of the exhibition, unless otherwise advised

17. Freight to and from NAS Gallery is the responsibility of the finalist. No payment will be made by NAS for the delivery or return of any entry. A separate return delivery arrangement will be made for those works selected for the regional tour

18. Finalists are responsible for insuring their work when organising transport to and from the National Art School. Once in the custody, control and care of NAS, the work shall be covered for loss or damage by NAS’s insurer. NAS will use the declared value of the artwork as listed on the signed Finalist Agreement for any insurance claim. If an insurance claim should occur, NAS will pay to the artist the amount received from and assessed by our insurer as fair value. Please note the insurer will review similar works of art and their provenance to determine if the declared value is, in fact, fair. NAS will not be responsible for any difference between the artist’s declared value and the insurer’s assessed value

19. Finalist artworks may be available for sale through NAS Gallery. The sale price listed on the entry form is final and includes GST (where applicable) and a 30% commission plus GST charged by the National Art School to the artist.

NAS acts as the commission agent for the artist’s sale of their work to the buyer. NAS is not responsible for any GST payable on the sale price nor the loss of the sale should the buyer not complete the transaction. Should the buyer request a tax invoice it is the responsibility of the artist to provide one. The artist accepts that NAS will disburse the net amount of the sale proceeds after commission to the artist within 14 days of the conclusion of the sale. If an artist nominates a representative gallery on the Finalist Agreement, NAS will split the 30% commission equally with that gallery.

Sold works must remain on exhibition as per item 13 and must not be collected earlier than the dates advised by NAS.

20. Finalists grant to the National Art School and the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation (SWDAF) a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual licence to reproduce (including photograph) the work in material form, publish and communicate the work to the public for the following purposes, and anything incidental to such purposes: marketing, publicity, educational, publication (for sale or otherwise) and archival uses of NAS and the SWFDAF in relation to the prize and its exhibition in all media, including electronic/digital, broadcasting and print media. The licence above includes the right to sublicense to NAS’s touring partners and sponsors in accordance with its agreements with those persons.

21. Force majeure: Where, for any reason beyond the reasonable control of the National Art School (including, for example, earthquake; flood; fire; act of God; terrorism; pandemic; government directions, orders or regulations; labour strikes or other emergency event), NAS is prevented or materially hindered from holding the competition or an exhibition of works, then it may vary, postpone or cancel the competition by notice in writing to that effect to the artists and by a notice on its website.